Chicago Heat Death Toll Surpasses Official Count

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - MIDWEST

September 22, 1995

CHICAGO — Scorching heat in July killed up to 733 Chicagoans, 210 more than the official count, a new study shows. The Chicago Health Department study says normally there would be 72 deaths in the city per day in July, for a monthly total of 2,232. But 2,965 deaths were recorded during the month, for 733 ''excess deaths,'' officials said Wednesday. The study used a different formula that accounted for such things as a declining death rate and seasonal variations. The heat was the only thing the researchers could find to explain the excess deaths.